Kirk Herbstreit Makes Definitive Arch Manning Declaration...

By Nelson Espinal

Contributing Sports Reporter

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ESPN media personality Kirk Herbstreit discussed Texas quarterback Arch Manning's expectations for the upcoming season amid rising expectations and hype.

Manning was the Heisman Trophy favorite heading into the 2025 season, but after a rough start, many in college football wrote him off as a bust who would not live up to the generational-talent billing he came into the year with.

However, Manning ended the season on a much better note than he started with, riding a good deal of momentum on his way to the end of the season, notably powering Texas to an upset over an undefeated Texas A&M.

The narrative around Manning started to turn around at that time, with expectations and buzz rising steadily.

AUSTIN, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 28: Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns walks off the field after beating the Texas A&M Aggies 27-17 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 28, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

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Beyond the college ranks, Manning was expected to become the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft come spring after a monster season, though he has decided to return for another season rather than enter a weak class where he would have been the favorite to go No. 1 overall, despite his struggles.

However, even in a stronger class next year, Herbstreit still believes Manning will be the top selection.

"I just think he's been through a tough stretch, where the expectations were almost unfair. And a lot of it was his own doing," Herbstreit said on

"He felt the tension that affected him. But when you're going into a season, it's like 'he's better than both of his uncles. He's better than his grandpa.'

"It's like every throw had to be, 'whoa, did you see that?' And I think he lived it. He experienced it. He survived it. I'll be shocked when the dust settles if he's not the guy in the class."

Who else is in the 2027 NFL Draft Class?

Next year, Josh Hoover will be in the class, and while he has a good deal of flaws, the Indiana football system has transformed quarterbacks, and Hoover could be the latest to have a late career resurgence.

Dante Moore is going to enter the draft next year as one of the stronger challengers to Manning, especially since he will have an abundance of weapons at Oregon.

Additionally, Julian Sayin, LaNorris Sellers, and Sam Leavitt are all players who could be prominent names if they put together a strong 2026 season. They have the talent to potentially become the top pick, but if Manning is playing at his best, they likely won't be ableto suprass him.

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